magic

American  

[maj-ik] / ˈmædʒ ɪk /

noun

1. the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand, deceptive devices, etc.; legerdemain; conjuring.

   to pull a rabbit out of a hat by magic.

2. the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature.

   Synonyms:

   enchantment

3. the use of this art.

   Magic, it was believed, could drive illness from the body.

4. the effects produced.

   the magic of recovery.

5. power or influence exerted through this art.

   a wizard of great magic.

6. any extraordinary or mystical influence, charm, power, etc..

   the magic in a great name;

   the magic of music;

   the magic of spring.

7. (initial capital letter) the U.S. code name for information from decrypting machine-enciphered Japanese wireless messages before and during World War II.

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adjective

1. employed in magic.

   magic spells;

   magic dances;

   magic rites.

2. mysteriously enchanting; magical.

   magic beauty.

3. of, relating to, or due to magic.

4. producing the effects of magic; magical.

   a magic touch.

verb (used with object)

magicked, magicking

1. to create, transform, move, etc., by or as if by magic.

   I magicked him into a medieval knight.

magic British  

/ ˈmædʒɪk /

noun

1. the art that, by use of spells, supposedly invokes supernatural powers to influence events; sorcery

2. the practice of this art

3. the practice of illusory tricks to entertain other people; conjuring

4. any mysterious or extraordinary quality or power

   the magic of springtime

5. very quickly

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adjective

1. of or relating to magic

   a magic spell

2. possessing or considered to possess mysterious powers

   a magic wand

3. unaccountably enchanting

   magic beauty

4. informal wonderful; marvellous; exciting

verb

1. to transform or produce by or as if by magic

2. (foll by away) to cause to disappear by or as if by magic

Related Words

Magic, necromancy, sorcery, witchcraft imply producing results through mysterious influences or unexplained powers. Magic may have glamorous and attractive connotations; the other terms suggest the harmful and sinister. Magic is an art employing some occult force of nature: A hundred years ago television would have seemed to be magic. Necromancy is an art of prediction based on alleged communication with the dead (it is called “the black art,” because Greek nekrós, dead, was confused with Latin niger, black): Necromancy led to violating graves. Sorcery, originally divination by casting lots, came to mean supernatural knowledge gained through the aid of evil spirits, and often used for evil ends: spells and charms used in sorcery. Witchcraft especially suggests a malign kind of magic, often used against innocent victims: Those accused of witchcraft were executed.

Other Word Forms

• magical adjective
• magically adverb
• quasi-magic adjective

Etymology

Origin of magic

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English magik(e) “witchcraft,” from Late Latin magica, Latin magicē, from Greek magikḗ, noun use of feminine of magikós “magical”; Magus, -ic

Explanation

Magic describes those unlikely events that seem to have a supernatural force behind them. When the elevator doors open just as you approach, it may seem like magic. If you believe in witches and sorcerers, you probably already know that they can use magic to make impossible things happen. Magic is often used more broadly to describe things that just seem to involve some greater power. The waiter may appear as if by magic just when you’re craving dessert. Magic can also describe seemingly impossible tricks performed by an entertainer — a magician — such as making a person disappear or pulling a coin out of thin air.

Example Sentences

Black suit, white lights—he didn’t need anything more to bottle the magic hour on Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

In his downtime he would travel by horse and buggy across Pennsylvania and neighboring states with what he called his "exhibition": a new-fangled Edison phonograph, a magic lantern slide projector and later on, movies.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

But the idea of waving a magic wand and getting rid of it all, was met with mixed reactions.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

But the magic lies in the embellishment, starting with the casting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

If I was fast enough, maybe the magic wouldn’t have time to work.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

Related Words

• fascination
• illusion
• wizardry